Crutch



A. R. LOFSTRAND, JR

CRUTCH Filed ct. 15, 1945 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 Lofstrand; `Jr.,` Silver Spring, Md.

"ApplicationiOctober 15, 1945, ScrialcN02l622338' I sclaims. (Chiles- 505;

Jinvention` relates to. crutches and more type. j c An. object of. this ,invention is to provide a crutch adjustable as to length which is made out c particularly to crutches of the adjustable length of telescoping tubular members and which inf' cludes -anarinI grip sleeve pivotally secured to the upper,4 end of the supportwhereby the user.v may releasethe hand grip and sti-llretain the support onvthe arm. u l, 1 i c Another object of this ,invention is to provide a crutch of this kind embodying ya split sleeve adapted to grip the arm andA a right angularly /,disposed hand grip below-the arm sleeve., the arm sleeve: beingpivotallysecured at `the upperl end of can be adjusted, and if desired the crutch can be disassembled so that it will occupy only -a small space. i

With the foregoing objects in View and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of a crutch partly broken away constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation partly broken away of the device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view ofthe upper portion of the lower support,

Figure 4 is a fragmentry vertical section of the lower end of the inner support,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the crutch with the sleeve or arm clamp in a substantially horizontal position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I Il designates generally an outer tubular member and the numeral II designates generally an inner lengthwise adjustable tubular member. The outer tubular member II) has extending from the upper end thereof an elongated supporting bar I2 which is formed with an obtusely extending upper portion I3. The lower end of the supporting bar I2 is formed witnaraueedstud r4; having aanwainwardly opening socket 1| sim thei10werenitngreof anda releasable securing means generally'fdesignetted!` as I-Sfsecures the `stud- I-W to the `.upper portion-of' the outer member l If, The securing means If`6 includesa substantially lil-shaped springlI-'l which has secured fte the"up`periend u'portions thereof afpair elf Vplugs `I3 which are adapted to slidabl-y engage' through openings lifyffornied rin the socketQIfEand openings A2li4 formed iri"^`the tubul-armeniber IIl'j The support I2 hasextending rightangularly from the lower portion thereof a han-d grip member `FSI having an annular rib: T'2 2l l at *its fouter A' end land formedlwith finger notches 23 infthelower si'dethereof'. The bar*v |2'lwiththe" extensioirlB is substantially T-shaped in transverse section and has formed in the upper end thereof a `pair of ears 23 Awithin which -a pivot bar 24 is adapted to loosely engage.

The bar 24 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 25 'extending between the ears 23. An arm clamping sleeve 26 is secured by fastening members 21 to i the pivot bar 24 and the sleeve 26 is split at its forward side as indicated at 28, and the ends of the sleeve are then rolled back as indicated at 29. The upper and lower edges of the sleeve 26` are also flared outwardly as indicated at `3l! and 3I respectively. c

The inner tubular member II is adjusted lengthwise of the louter tubular member I0 `by means of a pair of spring pressed plugs 321 lwhich are carried by the free ends of a U`shaped spring I3. A cylindrical reinforcing member `34 Vis welded or otherwise rmly secured within the inner member I I `and provides areinforcing means for the inner member II adjacent the locking plugs 32. The plugs 32 are slidable in registering openings 35 and 36 which are formed in the reinforcing member 34 and the inner member II respectively.

A lower plug 3l vis disposed in the lower endof` the inner member Il, being secured therein by a pair of diametrically disposed fastening meinbers 38. The plug 31 is formed at its lower end with an annular ange 39 engaging against `the lower end of the inner member II. A cushion member 40 engages about the lower end of the inner memberi I and includes a cylindrical side wall 4I having formed integral therewith a lower` wall 42 and vpreferably an annular rib 43 isformed at the lower end of the cushion member 40. The cushion member 40 may be made out of rubber or other cushioning material which `will not 20 without taking the arm gripping member 2,5 v

from the arm and to provide for lighting a cigarette or for other purposes, the arm engaged I.

with the sleeve 26 may be raised, the sleeve swinging from the pivot 25. 'Y I If it is desired to collapsethe crutch,.the upper supporting bar I2 may be `removedrom the sleeve or tubular member I0 by pressing; the buttons or plugs I8 inwardly and then pulling thebar I2,from; the ltubular member I0. i The Sinner-tubular member` f I I may be moved inwardly ,to thelimitf permitted by the cushion-member `"Ill V0I?k may becompletely Withdrawn -from the router member Iby pushing thebuttons-or plugs 32 Iinwardly andithen shifting the inner member II, endwise in thedesired direction.

uWith aV crutchasr hereinbefore described the crutch may be madey qui; 5f-*lightweight menu whih'Willlhave sufficient strength to provide the necessary support and stillV be of v sufciently light Weight that it will not be heavy to use.` [,What I claim is: Y i f 1. A crutch comprising `an elongated supporting member formed of a pair of teleseoping tu.

bular'rods, an elongated supporting bar, a reduced stud on the lower end of said bar engaging in the upper end of the outer of said tubular members, locking pins engaging through said stud and said outer member, said outer member formed with a longitudinal series of transversely aligned openings therein, locking pins engaging through the upper end of the inner of said tubular members and in selected openings of said outer tubular member securingsaidmembers in v-Selected ,adjustedI position; ,anv obtus'ely disposed upper portion on said supporting bar, and a split arm supporting sleeve rockably carried by said upper portion of said bar.

2. A crutch as set forth in claim 1, includ- V15` ing a forwardly extending handle on said bar belowsaidsplit sleeve.

3,..A crutch lasset forth in claim 1,`including U-shaped springs in said supporting member, the yfree ends of the arms of said springs being xed to the inner ends of said locking pins.

. l ANDERS R. :LOFSTRAND JR.

v REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

